Polk Streetscape Project
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Polk Street is a thriving neighborhood and commercial corridor that serves an important transportation function for San Francisco. It also has some of the highest pedestrian and bicycle collision rates in the City. On average, one person walking and one person biking are hit by a vehicle each month on Polk Street (122 in a five-year period).
For years, Polk Street has been the site of many traffic-related injuries and the corridor is currently on San Francisco’s Vision Zero High Injury Network. This network represents 12 percent of San Francisco’s surface streets and is where injuries, including severe and fatal injuries, are most concentrated.
San Francisco's Vision Zero policy calls for eliminating traffic-related fatalities by 2024.
The corridor is not only the designated street for the #No. 19 Muni bus line; it also is a preferred north-south bicycle route due to its flatter terrain. Polk Street also is a popular place for people to walk.
The Polk Streetscape Project was designed to enable safe access for all road users of all ages and abilities. Through community input and technical evaluation, the proposed design includes corridor-wide safety improvements and additional streetscape amenities at key locations.
Partnering on the project are San Francisco Public Works, San Francisco Planning Department, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
The Polk Streetscape Project aims to increase safety for people walking and biking on Polk Street, as well as improve the efficiency of transit on the corridor. This project will build on Polk Street's vibrant commercial character by improving safety and transportation choices.
Upcoming improvements on Polk Street between Beach and McAllister streets and nearby alleyways will include repaving, street base repair, sidewalk corner bulb-outs, to shorten the crossing distance, ADA-compliant curb ramp upgrades, Muni bus stop optimization; such as bus stop consolidation or relocation, bus bulb-outs for easier boarding, and left and right turn lanes to improve traffic flow, raised cycle tracks, green bike lanes, sewer replacements, water line replacement, traffic signal upgrades, high visibility crosswalks, better visibility at crosswalks, commercial-loading improvements, landscaping, tree planting, street lighting and alley enhancements to Fern Alley, to enhance the pedestrian and bicyclist experience with the creation of a well-lit plaza atmosphere, widening of the existing sidewalk, decorative asphalt, raised crosswalks, traffic calming measures and planting of palm trees.
To help achieve these improvements, the design necessitates the removal of 106 parking spaces along the Polk Street corridor and 28 spaces on side streets.
Updates on changes of design elements on the Polk Streetscape Project:
Upcoming traffic changes:
SFMTA legislated parking and loading changes for Polk Street and these changes will be implemented after final paving is completed for each segment. The parking and loading changes to the Polk side streets north of California Street have been implemented and the remainder of side streets changes will occur later this spring. To see the final parking and loading changes on Polk Street and the cross-streets, please see the final traffic striping plan here.
With the upcoming Polk Street paving work, SFMTA is implementing new striping of travel lanes with new improved bikeway designs. Parking and loading changes will occur with the new striping, including the removal of all parking on the east side of Polk Street between Pine Street and McAllister Street and some removal of parking on the west side of Polk Street with improved commercial and passenger loading spaces to better accommodate the area's demand. See www.sfmta.com/polk for more information.
Location
Polk Street from McAllister Street to Beach Street
Redwood Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
Elm Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
Willow Street, Polk Street to Larkin Street
Olive Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
Alice B. Toklas Place, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
Hemlock Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
Fern Street, Polk Street to Larkin Street Alleyway Improvement
Austin Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue Alleyway Improvement
Frank Norris Street, Polk Street to Larkin Street
Chestnut Street, Polk Street to Van Ness Avenue
North Point Street, Van Ness Avenue to Larkin Street
Visit bit.ly/PolkStreetscapeMap for additional details about the project.
Project and Construction Schedule
Completed Phases:
Community outreach and planning phase: August 2012 - March 2014
Environmental review: September 2014 - January 2015
Engineering public hearing: January 30, 2015
SFMTA Board of Director approvals: March 3, 2015
Detailed Design: Spring 2015 - Winter 2015/2016
Upcoming Phases:
Construction: October 2016 - 2018
Traffic Striping: Polk Street Final Traffic Striping Plan
Construction Sequence
The Polk Streetscape Project is anticipated to be completed in six segments. Please note that the following construction durations for each segment are approximate estimates and are subject to change. The projected construction schedule is as follows*:
Segment 5: October 2016 - September 2017
Segment 4: November 2016 - November 2017
Segment 3: August 2017 - April 2018
Segment 2: September 2017 - June 2018
Segment 1: March 2018 - July 2018
Segment 6: May 2018 - August 2018
*Please note that the construction schedule is subject to change due to rain, equipment breakdown, and/or unforeseen field conditions. Please see posted "No Parking" barricade signs for exact parking restrictions. Parking restrictions may vary per block.
Polk Streetscape Project Construction Activity Update:
03/05/19: The Polk Streetscape Project is nearing completion! Crews are putting the finishing touches on traffic signal switch over work and are in the process of applying final traffic striping. Please save the date and join us for a ribbon cutting and community celebration on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the entrance to Fern Alley at Polk and Fern from 11 AM to 12 PM.
Archived Polk Streetscape Project Construction Updates:
Construction Cost / Funding
Approximately $18,000,000
This project was made possible in part by Proposition K Sales Tax dollars provided by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
This project is also partially funded by:
2011 Road Paving and Street Safety Bond (Prop B)
2014 Transportation and Road Improvement Bond (Prop A)
Proposition K - Your Sales Tax Dollars at Work
PUC Wastewater Bond Fund
PUC Water Enterprise Bond Fund
SFMTA Revenue Bond
Lower Polk Neighbors
Lower Polk Community Benefit District
Additional Information
More information on the Polk Streetscape Project can be found on the following partner websites:
Municipal Transportation Agency
SF Planning
Related Projects:
Van Ness Improvement Project
19-Polk Bus Stop Changes
Polk Street Traffic Signal Upgrade Project
The Polk Street Traffic Signal Upgrade Project began construction in January 2017 and has completed installation of new traffic signals at nine intersections along Polk Street from Union to Post streets. Intersections include: Union, Broadway, Pacific, Jackson, Washington, Clay, Sacramento, California, Post
Archived Polk Street Traffic Signal Upgrad Project Construction Updates
SF Public Works
SF Public Utilities Commission
SF Municipal Transportation Agency
SF Planning Department
M Squared Construction, Inc.
Mission
San Francisco Public Works is one of the largest and most complex municipal operations in the City, with a 1,600-member workforce and a $384 million annual operating budget. The department's active capital project portfolio exceeds $3 billion. As one of San Francisco oldest City departments, it is also one of the most forward-thinking. Keeping San Francisco beautiful, safe and sustainable.
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